There are always talk of the "perfect" projector", well the machine that fills that bill, is the
long neglected FUMEO 9000 range, they were introduced in 1978 in the UK, but were marketed as
professional machines, no other projectors were as expensive at that time.They were projection machines,
not recording studios, thus the money was spent on care of film, not on re recording facilities that the later
GS1200s offered.

I'd love to have a stereo machine with 1200' or more capacity. But they cost a bit :-)

I've never had one Hugh but for just showing films on them, they must be very hard to beat, that's for sure!

I understand why Fumeo didn't pay great emphasis to recording facilities on their long play projectors as they really don't lend themselves to having film transported backwards and forwards in the same way smaller machines do.

I never use the Beaulieu for recording either apart from very very occasionally copying track 1 onto track 2 n run when it has already come to me on bigger than 1200ft reels.
This then, becomes just the same as watching a complete movie anyhow.

I have often been asked which is the best projector; my view is that nearly all super 8 projectors have a design problem of some sort, or bad choice of materials. My personal view is the GS1200 takes some beating (I am biased) but when it comes to the film path we all know the GS1200 has some design issues, largely down to lack of rollers on the film guides, this can of course be addressed.
The recording and sync facilities are excellent although the majority of people do not use the recording part of a projector, so would not need all that the GS has to offer, but it is still a nice looking machine and if looked after runs well, it is still my favourite projector, apologies to Hugh and Andrew ! Who I know have their own opinions which is fair enough, and I would agree the GS requires more maintenance than most.

& for me i love the ST1200HD, purely because, for me, its a great proven workhorse, a bit like the GS but without all the gadgets, if only they did a stereo version of the HD i think it would have been almost perfect.
The sound quality and very high output in volume really is very good compared to most machines we have owned.
Recently i almost joined the ranks of the Sankyo 800 stereo owners but unfortunately i missed it.

I have never owned a fumeo 9119, (or any Fumeo for that matter), but it does look great.

Tom, I take my hat off to you as the one true fighter for Elmo, I'm not being flip, you are the man for these projectors and I
applaude that, they are a very sound projector I have used 'em for years and had great fun with them, apart from the bad guides. On everything else, they are a great machine.

Bill, don't think for a minute Andrew and I take any offense, a projector is what it is, in my case all I ask
is a good steady picture, good sound and no damage, the Fumeo does that for me, thanks to a "Yoda" type fellow
named Bill.

Yep agreed. It is the guides and the drive chain including the Capstan that make up two of THE only reasons why I don't similarly rate the 1200HD as high as Tom does.

Bills excellent and expert assessment of the GS is of course also spot on.
They are without doubt, one of THE most sophisticated projectors ever made in the Super 8 world.
State of the art electronics back then, no doubting that!

My only qualm is simply this, if they can scratch means at some point, it most probably would.
At the price this machine was when new, for me personally, I find this unforgivable given the high expense of the film that runs through them.

No other machine at this price point ever had such notorious wear problems associated with their guides and therefore damage to the films when worn.
Many at a much lower price point, are far safer machines to place your precious movies through.

I know they can, and are, modified by people as gifted as Bill, but not everyone has a person like this to hand and then what?

Furthermore, should you be forced into having to do any of these things given the customer base and price point this projector was pitched at?

cheers Andy,& Hugh, i will add,that aside my unfortunate episode of the Bauer, in truth i do rate,(behind my growls )
theT610 as a very nice machine, no one could deny that it has to be one of,if not, THE quietest running projector ever, the light output is A1 and of course i know the recording facilities are there at the top. For me its the sound output and build with ease of access to the film path etc that the Elmo is my prefered.
Oddly enough the refunding of the Bauer is what gave me the cash and entrance to the digital world with my purchase of the "you know what" from Mark Todd on the 8mm forum. Now i have the best of both worlds and still have 3 Elmos and 4 eumigs so cine for us is still and always will be our main hobby. In fact aside from the films we bought last week ive just paid what i term as silly money for an 800 foot beatles tv show from the 60s. Will i ever learn???

You do indeed Tom, now have the best of both worlds well and truly covered! Well done to you, I am certain you will be delighted with your latest investments.

I definatly am,

I used to own a 9119 Fumeo. While I thought ergonomically it was clunky and not too great to look at, the way that it handled film was really incredible. All metal parts, nice manual threading. I do miss that about the machine. You do feel as if great care was taken to insure your film will be handled with the utmost care. Picture quality was good, sound was good, I just couldn't get past the design I guess.
For me my favorite is the GS1200 Xenon and the Beaulieu 708 HTI with the Bauer a nice 2nd runner up.
If I need Optical..GS. For almost all else the Beaulieu.
But if I want to throw on something real quick or its late at night..I just grab the Bauer T610. So quiet with great sound and a nice bright picture.
One day when I get too old and too weak to lift the other back breaking machines the Bauer may win!! Now I just need one of those long play units...
And Tom.. we will never learn! One day I looked at my small collection (yes..its is pretty small relatively!) and started adding up what I could sell the prints and gear for. I stopped after a few because it was NOT good! This hobby...wow! Expensive!

Fumeo Projectors adverts used to claim ... " Tools Not Toys ". hahahahaha !
I am inclined to agree there.

Nice slogan Fumeo!

You are certainly right there David, imported as a pro machine, the only maintenance I do is to ensure the gate is clean, it looks
after itself, granted it may not be the prettiest on the block, but it is certainly the toughest and most dependable.

I agree with you on the Fumeo. Build quality is meant to last for sure. I do miss the nice solid feel of the manual threading and the way the pieces click into place. With that machine you do feel that if it ever went down on you, you could always find a way to make it work. No OEM pieces needed really. Now I want another! :)

I am lucky to have bought the last available soundhead and guides from Fumeo UK some years back
along with some other bits and belts. My Fumeo 9119 should in theory see me out.
Still you never know. hahahaha !